New PDP to Jonathan: account for missing $5b

The New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the Federal Government to account for the $5 billion, which has reportedly disappeared from the nation’s Excess Crude Account (ECA).

The factional party was reacting to allegation of the missing fund by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi when he opened the second annual retreat of the NGF in Sokoto at the weekend.

Amaechi alleged that the Excess Crude Account stood at $9 billion in January but had now shrunk to $4 billion.

A statement yesterday by New PDP National Publicity Secretary Chikwuemeka Eze said the allegation was too weighty to be swept under the carpet, because of the realities on the ground.

The statement said: “For all intents and purposes, Governor Amaechi is not a frivolous person and is not known for making frivolous claims. We told Nigerians about the poor handling of our common patrimony by this administration but sadly, nobody took us serious.

“Today, the unmistakable evidence is that Nigeria is broke, as the Federal Government now finds it difficult to meet its obligations to states, local governments and contractors.”

The factional party hailed Amaechi for bringing the matter to the open and challenged the Federal Government to tell Nigerians what it did with the money.

It also challenged the nation’s anti-graft agencies to probe the whereabouts of the missing fund.

The new PDP said: “That this administration is running for a price award as the most corrupt administration in the annals of governance in Nigeria is not in doubt.

“We urge Nigerians to heed the advice of the NGF and stop being docile in the face of monumental impunity in the country. This, in reality, is the only way to rescue Nigeria from the path of doom…”